Karen Bell is a true asset to The Bell Team and a great resource and help in all things Sanibel Island and Captiva Island Real Estate. She and her dog Ruby were recently featured by Peal the Blogger.  Here is the blog written by Pearl:

"G’Day, Mate! Introducing Rutland Manor Cobberdog Ruby

The next time you are in Sydney (think Breaker Dundee Sydney, not Hillsborough County, Florida,
Sydney), plan a drive 280-mile drive west, over the Blue Mountains. Take a right when you reach
Bogolong Springs. Then, and only then, will you find 65 acres of “heaven...

There's something so fun about a long three-day weekend. With Labor Day, one of America's most iconic three-day weekends just around the corner we thought it would be fun to share a perfect way to spend a long weekend on Sanibel island.

Sanibel Island is located on the gulf coast of Florida just west of Fort Myers in southern Florida. It is known for its crystal clear blue waters year-round. Accessing Sanibel Island is easy from Fort Myers through the causeway bridge. If you are flying in for a visit you can utilize the two major airports in Fort Lauderdale or Fort Myers. 

For some, vacationing in Sanibel is a time-honored tradition. There are many families that consider Sanibel Island a second home and love coming...

Research conducted by the Retirement Industry Trust Association has shown that of the 10,000 Americans in the Baby Boomers generation that reach the typical retirement age of 65 every day only 47% have already retired. It is not uncommon for many people to think about what their life will look like during retirement and how they may be able to sustain that lifestyle as they take a much-deserved step away from the working world.

If you are considering how you will fund retirement one thing that could be a huge hopeful factor is deciding whether your current home will suit your retirement lifestyle needs. If your current home does not have features or benefits...

The entire state of Florida is an area that sees tropical storms and hurricanes. The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year. While some people may be reluctant to move to areas like Sanibel Island because they are concerned about tropical storms if you think about it every area of the country has its own natural disaster to be aware of.

Here's information to know about storm season on Sanibel Island when you own a home

Plan And Plan Some More, Be Ready at All Times

It is wise to be prepared at all times for tropical storms and hurricanes when you live on Sanibel Island and in all of Florida for that matter. You want to make sure that you always have a storm emergency plan in...

The overwhelming and competitive seller's market has taken a cool down from the frenzy that it has been over the last two years. What does that mean for homeowners considering selling their homes in the next few months or years?

Home prices are increasing and will continue to do so but not at the rapid pace that they have been over the last few years. There is less buyer demand for several reasons one of them being the increase in mortgage interest rates. This means that there is more home inventory on the market, especially in the last couple of weeks. And as the market conditions begin to shift the...

Some homeowners have recently received in the mail an offer from a company providing services that protect the title of a home from someone stealing it in order to use it as collateral for loans and lines of credit or even a second mortgage without the knowledge of the legal homeowner. According to the service providers, thieves can take money for these items and leave the legal homeowner with the obligation to pay them back.

Is this type of fraud an actual thing? Do homeowners really need a service to help protect their title ownership?

There are many businesses out there trying to make money from offering services that someone may or may not need. It is important to make sure that...

There are a lot of things to think about when you become a homeowner. One of the most important is making sure that you don’t make any common mistakes.

What are the most common mistakes?

The most common mistake that homeowners make is not budgeting for repairs and maintenance. It’s important to remember that your home is a long-term investment, and you should plan accordingly. Set aside money each month so that you’re prepared when something needs to be fixed.  This leads to another common mistake is neglecting to update your home. As time goes on, your home will start to show its age. You might not think it’s a big deal now, but eventually, it will become an issue. Invest...

If you are considering purchasing a home this year but have held off because of all of the craziness that is in the real estate market right now you may be looking for an advantage to help you get ahead in the strong seller's market. Competition is still very high among buyers even with an increase of inventory coming to the market just in the last few months. With that being said there are still some strategies buyers can take to see homebuying success this year.

Purchase now instead of later

The earlier you start in your homebuying process and actually purchase a home the more beneficial it will be to you as a buyer. Mortgage rates are only expected to continue to rise throughout the year and into the next. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was expected to rise to 3.5% and has risen well above that making some buyers reluctant to purchase until things calm down.

The thing is both home prices and mortgage rates are forecasted to continue to rise so it is still much more affordable...

sanibel real estate - just reduced

WEDGEWOOD OF SANIBEL

Beautiful direct Gulf-front condo lives like a private home with all the conveniences of condo living. Elevator, under building parking, sparkling community pool, tennis and private beach access. Just under 3,000 living sq. ft. offering 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and den. Colorful and inviting this spacious floor plan offers turquoise Gulf views from the living room, plantation shutters, crown molding, bamboo and tile floors, built-in bar, kitchen with breakfast bar, island cook top, Sub Zero and all white appliances & cabinetry. The primary suite is large with walk in closet and sliders to the screened lanai with...